By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.

pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

Petya Nedelcheva beat Pi Hongyan to progress to the next round. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

Singapore Indoor Stadium, Wednesday, June 10, 2009 – Fifth seed Pi Hongyan from France was deposed by Bulgarian Petya Nedelcheva 2-0 (21-18, 21-11) in the first round of the Singapore Badminton Open.

It was a close first set as both players traded leads several times, but the former world number two struggled in the second set as she allowed Nedelcheva to pull a 17-6 lead at one point.

Nedelcheva will now meet Jiang Yanjiao from China in the next round. Jiang beat Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 2-0 (21-11 21-14).

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pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

Hongyan smashes back. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

Nedelcheva serves. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

Hongyan stretches out to receive a shot. (Photo 4 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

Nedelcheva goes low to receive a drop shot. Photo 5 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

Hongyan serves. (Photo 6 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

Nedelcheva lets out a victory cry as she wins the game. (Photo 7 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

pi hong yan vs petya nedelcheva

A disappointed Hongyan. (Photo 8 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)